Re: Hog manure...now sustainable hog production

Greg and Lei Gunthorp (hey4hogs@kuntrynet.com)
Tue, 17 Mar 98 16:00:08 PST

Steve,
Thats definately a step in the right direction. Sustainability would be better served yet
if the hogs were on pasture spreading there own manure. That would mean a crop rotation
including forages for the hogs.
I really think we are selling ourselves short in the midwest with this confinement hog industry.
I've been arguing to no avail that the biggest problem with the confinement hog industry is the
economics for individual farms. An investment in a pasture hog operation ends up with the majority
of assets in real estate. Last I knew real estate is still considered a stable investment. Confinement
operations end up with most of their assets tied up in buildings. Last I knew they have a definate
lifetime and aren't easily sold and if sold you can only get pennies on the dollar. Therefore can't
we say that pasture livestock operations force us to accumulate wealth(real estate). If thats the
case aren't they a more sustainable approach from the stand point of long term economics? There
is no doubt in my mind about the long term environmental and social aspects.

Best wishes,
Greg Gunthorp
pasture hog farmer
LaGrange, IN

----------
> Sanet,
> Saw this today in Succesful Farming Magazine. Its nice to know that some
> University research supports sustainable ag concepts.
>
> Hog manure...still best for corn yields
>
> By Rod Fee
> Livestock Editor
> Successful Farming
>

> University of Minnesota has again
> confirmed hog manure beats commerical fertilizers
> for boosting corn yields.
>
> Manure application rates of 3000-4000
> gallons of slurry per acre and as high as 6050
> gallons per acre was compared to
> commercial fertilizer applied at optimum and
> non-limiting levels.
>
> According to Gyles Randall, U of M
> researcher, "Corn yields were greater for the
> manure than commercial fertilizer at six
> of the seven sites. The average advantage for
> the spring-applied manure was 10.7 bushels
> per acre.
>
> "In two studies, manure was applied both
> spring and fall with a 7.5 bushel advantage
> for fall applied manure, 15 bushel for
> spring application."
>
> --
> "New Generation Cropping Systems": the cutting edge of sustainable
> agriculture
> http://www.cedarmeadowfarm.com
> Steve Groff
> Cedar Meadow Farm
> 679 Hilldale Rd
> Holtwood PA 17532 USA
> Ph. 717-284-5152
>
>
>
> To Unsubscribe: Email majordomo@ces.ncsu.edu with "unsubscribe sanet-mg".
> To Subscribe to Digest: Email majordomo@ces.ncsu.edu with the command
> "subscribe sanet-mg-digest".
>

To Unsubscribe: Email majordomo@ces.ncsu.edu with "unsubscribe sanet-mg".
To Subscribe to Digest: Email majordomo@ces.ncsu.edu with the command
"subscribe sanet-mg-digest".